Our shameful legacy of racism . . . and how it is exploited by the GOP

[ProfessorPlum]

It never really hit me until the other day just how damaging the lingering evils of the incredible crimes of slavery have been to our country until the other day.

But think about it: in addition to all of the incredibly hurtful woes and burdens it has placed on an entire section of our society, in addition to the hatred and violence and tensions it has produced . . . in addition to all of that, racism has made it impossible for Americans to govern themselves wisely.

How many people in this country today will not or can not vote for politicians who would provide them economic stability and a social safety net - precisely BECAUSE that net would also be extended to people of another race whom they have been taught to loathe? Bigots from all over the country can never vote for universal health care, because they lay awake at night worrying that it might somehow benefit a black family. They can never vote to strengthen welfare, unemployment, job benefits . . . because it might somehow also benefit poor black Americans. Any program which helps the poor is immediately translated in their brains into "handouts" for "black people" and therefore verboten. They will not do anything politically which would make this country a more humane place, for everyone, because instead of thinking "there but for the grace of God go I" when they think about poor people, they can only blame the suffering . . because of racism. People who would help the poor of all races in this country are defeated through race-baiting and barely concealed subtexts in speeches by those who are happy to create an underclass of all races, but who push racist buttons to do it.

Those people who committed the crimes of racism have screwed this country for good - if we ever learn to vote in our own best interest, it will be despite the legacy of slavery and racism.

[RethugAssKicker]

1. Exactly... I've been making this point for years..

Wanna get rid of Conservatives?......get rid of Racism...

Most countries have class war-fare. In this country poor whites (in which there are many) do not join forces with poor blacks. Instead they vote against their own self interests and side with the Republicans and corporations!!... If it wasn't for racism inherent in the American people.. the "conservative" agenda would be only a small fraction of AMerican politics.

[libra]

2. You summed up so well the biggest problem in this country . . .

Few understand how racism brings out irrational feelings that block progress for all. Brilliant post . ..

[ProfessorPlum]

3. kick

nobody disagrees?

[Ron Green]

4. I don't disagree, but I would suggest, as another poster has,

that class warfare is pretty much universal. Anytime you've got rulers, they'll seek to exploit fear natural fear of "the other," and thereby rule while holding up the boogeyman specter. In the US, we have had the convenient and easily-identified class of slaves, who then became poor black people, who then became just black people, to serve as the "other" to be feared.

[RepublicanElephant]

5. exactly!

divide and conquer... and conquer... and conquer.

[Brewman_Jax]

6. kick

:kick:

[Cleita]

7. Not only slavery but what European colonists did to the

Native Americans and are still doing to them. Somehow we have to make those racist Americans realize that it's through their racism, homophobia and sexism that they are putting the wrong people in charge of our country who are anything but patriotic Americans.

[bleedingheart]

8. Howard Zinn discusses this in his book

A People's History of the US

specifically the point about how racism was created by white wealthy planters to make sure the indentured whites and the slaves didn't geto too close and figure out that the rich guy was the problem...